Childcare support

Caroline Pidgeon: Following your announcement of an interest-free loan for all parents in the GLA Group to cover up-front costs of childcare provision are you satisfied with the take up of the scheme and the steps that have been taken publicise the policy throughout the GLA Group?

The Mayor: I am really pleased that this new policy was introduced since I became Mayor and that we have made available a scheme that offers support to staff who are members of working families across the GLA group.
The scheme is promoted through a number of channels within each organisation in the group to ensure that staff are aware of the benefits. It is just one policy in a range to support working parents which includes childcare voucher schemes and annual leave trade-in to finance childcare provider costs. The take up of the scheme is dependent on the circumstances of each employee.
I am satisfied with the steps that have been taken to publicise the policy throughout the GLA Group – this is done through induction events; new joiner literature and intranet communications. However, we will continue to monitor take-up across the group and to consider new ways of publicising the scheme to staff.